The vessel has been designed in line with the latest regulatory developments, including updated stability requirements that are reshaping ferry design across Europe 

The new design is optimised for more moderate speeds, enabling a significant improvement in fuel efficiency and overall operating economics

Foreship, the naval architecture and marine engineering company of RINA, has developed a new ferry concept tailored to the specific operational and economic requirements of the Greek domestic market, with a focus on efficiency, simplicity and cost control.

Greece’s ferry network

Greece’s ferry network is one of the most extensive in Europe, connecting more than 200 inhabited islands and transporting around 50 million passengers annually. At the same time, operators are working within a highly constrained environment, shaped by strong seasonality, regulated pricing and increasing pressure on operating costs, alongside the need to renew an ageing fleet.

The new vessel concept of the Greek market

Ari Huttunen, Marine Design & Engineering Projects Principal Consultant at Foreship, said, “This new vessel concept has been developed in response to the specific challenges of the Greek market, with a focus on optimising both capital and operating expenditure. The design integrates all essential functionalities for safe and reliable operations, while avoiding unnecessary complexity, resulting in a robust and economically sustainable vessel.”

Related: RINA awarded Approval in Principle to DRIFT Energy for its energy-harvesting ship design.

The concept is the operating profile

A central element of the concept is the operating profile. While speed has traditionally been a defining factor in the Greek ferry sector, the new design is optimised for more moderate speeds, enabling a significant improvement in fuel efficiency and overall operating economics.

Design of the vessel

The vessel has also been conceived in line with the latest regulatory developments, including updated stability requirements that are reshaping ferry design across Europe and influencing aspects such as dimensions and passenger capacity. These changes have been taken into account from the early design stages, ensuring the concept remains aligned with the evolving framework.

 Shaping design choices

By shaping design choices in the realities of the Greek ferry sector, including cost sensitivity, operational intensity during peak periods, and the need for reliable, straightforward vessels, the concept provides a practical reference point for future fleet renewal.

A "Foreship ferry"

A "Foreship ferry" refers to a vessel concept or design engineered by the international naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy, Foreship. Founded in 2002 and part of the multinational engineering firm RINA, Foreship specializes in designing energy-efficient passenger vessels, including cruise ships and ferries

About: RINA

RINA is a global professional services firm headquartered in Genoa, Italy, that provides engineering, testing, inspection, and certification solutions across diverse industries, including marine, energy, and infrastructure. Originally founded as Registro Italiano Navale in 1861, it remains one of the world's oldest and most prominent ship classification societies

#RINA #Foreship #Greek Market #Greece’s ferry network #Ari Huttunen #,Greek ferry sector#New Design